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Caption

Fat cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an adipocyte (fat cell, red). Surrounding the adipocyte are much smaller white blood cells. Adipocytes store energy as an insulating layer of fat and the majority of the cell's volume is taken up by a large lipid (fat or oil) droplet. Fat accumulation starts with a few small lipid droplets which coalesce to make one large droplet. When mature, an adipocyte may be 10 or 20 times its original size. Magnification: x7000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.